California GOP Lawmaker Roy Ashburn Says He's Gay

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: In The News

Roy Ashburn, the conservative California state senator who was arrested last week for drunk driving after reportedly leaving a gay bar, has acknowledged that he is gay.

CBS13 reports that Ashburn made the announcement to a radio station where he used to host a talk show.

"I'm gay," he told radio host Inga Barks, according to the Sacramento Bee. "Those are the words that have been so difficult for me for so long."

Ashburn, a divorced father of four, has repeatedly voted in opposition to gay rights, and in 2005 hosted a rally in favor of "traditional marriage." He has voted against expanding anti-discrimination laws to include sexual orientation, recognizing out-of-state gay marriages and establishing a day honoring gay lawmaker Harvey Milk.

The Sacramento Bee reports that Ashburn said Monday morning he made the votes because they reflected the feelings of the voters in his district.

"I have always felt that my faith and allegiance was to the people, there, in the district, my constituents," he said. "And so as each of these individual measures came before the Legislature I cast 'no' votes, usually 'no' votes, because the measures were...almost always acknowledging rights or assigning identification to homosexual persons."

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by antoniof123 March 16, 2010 1:39 PM EDT: I don't care really!!!!!; Reply to this comment

by mcwmemphis March 10, 2010 3:47 PM EST

HIV/AIDS came into existence through homosex acts in San Fransico in the 80s, and killed tens of thousands of men. Now one in four in Africa are dead or dieing because of it. Millions are orphaned and millins more are lying in hospital beds dying without hope. Nobody can say homosex acts dont effect the rest of society. Dont be fooled by people kissing and hugging in the name of love.

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by CaptainKat March 12, 2010 4:28 PM EST: Ummn... no. Please start paying more attention to current issues instead of keeping your head in toilet. HIV/AIDs is a mutation of a similar ape virus that was spread to people in the congo who hunted apes (Through blood transference, get those dirty thoughts out of your head please :/) It spread to the US later on, and because at first doctors and scientists were incapable of connecting the cases in the US to those in Africa far before hand, and because in the US it first started to infect homosexuals people began to point fingers and say it was the homosexual community's fault. Ask any legitimate doctor or bioligist nowadays, and they will kindly and factually say that, no, homosexuality DID NOT cause HIV/AIDS.

by mcwmemphis March 9, 2010 7:19 PM EST

I cant believe people dont understand sex is for husband and wife period. Anything else is diviant, immoral, disgusting, perverted and that is why most homoes died of HIV/AIDS in San Fransico back in the 80's and now there are a few left that want to make everybody a homoe.

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by pleadyourcase March 9, 2010 8:49 PM EST: I can't believe that you are so close-minded and ignorant.

How does it effect you? How does a gay person walking past you on the street hurt you, change you, or impact your life? Half the time, you wouldn't even KNOW if a gay individual crossed your path.

If it is because of your ridiculous, factitious religion, then why worry? Don't you believe that they'll "go to hell" anyways, and you'll be in Heaven? What does it matter to YOU if someone is gay?

Stop being petty and immature, we all have to live in this world together, so you need to stop your judgments, slap a piece of duct tape over your mouth, and get over yourself.

Our country was founded on the basis of freedom. It is their right to be gay, and if you don't like it, then you can just get out of this country, because we do not need people like you who try to crush the freedoms of others.

Also, for your reference, though **** is generally a derogatory term (I believe homosexual/gay is preferred), it is spelled ****, not homoe.


by jmca2009 March 9, 2010 1:32 AM EST: As a Representative of the people in the State Senate it is his job to represent the views and wishes of the people in his district, that's his job regardless of how he personally feels or behaves behind closed doors.

I think if he continues to vote the way the majority in his area like they will probably keep him in office, his bigger problem is the drunk driving charge.; Reply to this comment


by kansas1946 March 8, 2010 10:03 PM EST: "I have always felt that my faith and allegiance was to the people, there, in the district, my constituents," he said. "And so as each of these individual measures came before the Legislature I cast 'no' votes, usually 'no' votes, because the measures were...almost always acknowledging rights or assigning identification to homosexual persons."
***************************
Geeze, is that the best he can do. What a liar and a hypocrite.; Reply to this comment


by alfredoz1 March 8, 2010 8:26 PM EST: I have heard a lot lately that homosexuality is a "curable disease". Why doesn't this guy try to get him self cured. He of course would still have a drinking problem-----.; Reply to this comment

by consh8theusa March 8, 2010 7:56 PM EST

Being gay isn't a crime or a problem for an honest politician, it's the absolute hypocrisy of vocally being anti-gay, voting against gay concerns and then being a closeted gay person himself that is beyond ANY form of acceptance.

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by pleadyourcase March 9, 2010 8:57 PM EST: THIS.


by jove4015 March 8, 2010 7:45 PM EST: Aww, come on guys, cut him a little slack. Remember coming out of the closet? Remember all the creepy, awful things you had to do to stay in the closet? Remember stepping back out of that huge tangled web of lies? Welcome to the family, Roy. Take your time. But don't forget who you are now. If your constituents liked you so much, and you clearly served them so well, maybe you should use your position to help show them how the rest of us are just people with dignity and values like them - rather than just letting them believe you're a scumbag. It might be better for your electoral chances anyway if some of them come around to not hating gay people, after all...; Reply to this comment

by CBSisCommunist5 March 8, 2010 7:39 PM EST

he wanted to see what it is like to be a democrat...

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by pleadyourcase March 9, 2010 8:58 PM EST: Not sure if he has the intelligence level that it takes to be Liberal. He'd never make it in our world.


by run2jazz2 March 8, 2010 7:17 PM EST: I don't see how someone's sexual orientation has anything to do with his or her job performance? He will have to answer for his behavior when he meets GOD so it is not for me to pass judgement on this man's lifestyle nor should anyone else.; Reply to this comment